USCâ€™s Lane Kiffin could be next on NCAA hit list

USC coach Lane Kiffin, center, shown here being escorted through a crowd of Trojans fans by security personnel before a game last season, will appear before the NCAA on Saturday to discuss possible violations while he was coach at Tennessee. ARMANDO BROWN, FOR THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

What will USC coach Lane Kiffin face when he goes in front of the NCAA's Committee on Infractions on Saturday in Indianapolis?

It's hard to say with any certainty. The NCAA has become as unpredictable as the lottery lately.

But this much is known: The charges Kiffin must answer to from his one rocky season at Tennessee are serious, and the punishment he might receive could be severe.

This is known because, in its Notice of Allegations sent to Tennessee in February, the NCAA alleged that Kiffin "failed to promote an atmosphere for compliance within the football program and failed to monitor" the activities of his staff. Either "typically" constitutes a major violation, according to NCAA spokesperson Stacey Osburn.

It also is known that the NCAA has the wherewithal to exceed any past sanctions given to others for similar offenses. That's what happened to USC, which received the harshest punishment since Southern Methodist got the so-called "death penalty" in the mid-1980s.

"When precedent doesn't matter, when no two cases are alike, that makes it really difficult," said an attorney experienced in NCAA cases who spoke on condition of anonymity. "It's pretty crazy. And these are lawyers. I don't know where they're coming from. That's why they're taking a lot of heat, a lot of criticism."

The attorney, who has represented individuals and institutions against the NCAA, said Kiffin could be subject to a "show-cause" penalty if the Committee on Infractions rules against him. Former USC assistant coach Todd McNair received a one-year, show-cause penalty, prohibiting him from recruiting for that length of time. Most of the allegations made against Kiffin at Tennessee involved recruiting.

Kiffin also could be suspended for a game or games.

"That's entirely possible," said Florida-based attorney Michael Buckner, who has written papers about and represented clients in NCAA compliance cases. "You're starting to see the committee enacting more stringent penalties against coaches."

The NCAA suspended Jim Calhoun, coach of the national-champion Connecticut men's basketball team, for three games next season because of recruiting violations. Michigan State basketball coach Tom Izzo served a one-game suspension last season for a so-called "secondary" violation.

Not that the outcomes of past cases matter. As noted on the NCAA's website, "The committee decides penalties case-by-case. Each case is unique, and applying case precedent is difficult (if not impossible) because all cases are different."

So how do attorneys responsibly advise their clients, especially when they inevitably ask about possible penalties?

"I have to give them a range," Buckner said. "It's been increasingly difficult."

No matter what, if any, sanctions the NCAA imposes on Kiffin, they would not directly affect USC. It would be up to the school to make sure Kiffin abides by them. But regardless of the outcome of Saturday's hearing, any compliance-related misstep would worsen USC's NCAA predicament because the school already is on probation.

USC athletic director Pat Haden and head of compliance David Roberts are expected to accompany Kiffin to Indianapolis. The hearing also will include former Tennessee men's basketball coach Bruce Pearl, the primary target in the case; and Mike Hamilton, who this week resigned as Tennessee athletic director, effective at the end of the month.

USC coach Lane Kiffin, center, shown here being escorted through a crowd of Trojans fans by security personnel before a game last season, will appear before the NCAA on Saturday to discuss possible violations while he was coach at Tennessee. ARMANDO BROWN, FOR THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
USC coach Lane Kiffin, center, shown here being escorted through a crowd of Trojans fans by security personnel before a game last season, will appear before the NCAA on Saturday to discuss possible violations while he was coach at Tennessee. ARMANDO BROWN, FOR THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Lane Kiffin speaks at a news conference on in Knoxville, Tenn., in 2008. The NCAA alleges Kiffin “failed to promote an atmosphere for compliance within the football program and failed to monitor” the activities of his staff while at Tennesee. WADE PAYNE, AP PHOTO
USC coach Lane Kiffin answers questions from the media after learning about sanctions against the Trojans in 2010. No matter what sanctions the NCAA imposes on Kiffin, they would not directly affect USC. PAUL RODRIGUEZ, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Lane Kiffin stands on the sidelines while the coach at Tennessee. The NCAA could suspend Kiffin for a game or games at USC for alleged recruiting violations at Tennessee. WADE PAYNE, AP PHOTO

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